Music Friday: Love-Struck Brad Paisley Forgets the Engagement Ring in ‘You Have That Effect On Me’

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, a love-struck Brad Paisley is about to propose to his girlfriend, but accidentally leaves the engagement ring at home in 2001’s “You Have That Effect On Me.”

In the song, Paisley assumes the role of a young man who is so head-over-heels in love that he can hardly think straight. He tells his girlfriend how anxious he’s been during the past few weeks — that he’s been haunted by the vision of getting down on one knee and forgetting what to say. Each morning, while brushing his teeth, he’s rehearsed the lines, but still can’t get them memorized.

He purchased the ring of her dreams, but when it was finally time to pop the question, something was still not right…

Paisley sings, “You’ve had your eyes on a 2-carat ring / I finally went out and I bought it / Right now it’s at home sittin’ on my TV / Would you believe I forgot it.”

Our hero tells us why he deserves a free pass for his absentmindedness: “You can’t blame me ’cause it’s plain to see that you have that effect on me.”

The role of an awkward suitor comes naturally to Paisley, who famously fell in love with actress Kimberly Williams in 1991, but didn’t get the courage to call her until 10 years later. Williams starred in 1991’s Father of the Bride, and Paisley developed an instant crush when he saw her on the big screen. His feelings only grew stronger when he saw her in Father of the Bride II in 1995. It took another six years before he would finally contact the actress and convince her to go out on a date.

Williams told QPolitical.com that they “fell for each other fast.” They met in 2001, were engaged in August of 2002 and tied the knot in March of 2003.

“You Have That Effect On Me” was the 11th track of Part II, his second studio album — a release that rose to #3 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart and #31 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

Born in West Virginia, Bradley Douglas “Brad” Paisley was introduced to country music by his grandfather, Warren Jarvis, who gave the eight-year-old his first guitar, a Sears Danelectro Silvertone. Jarvis taught his grandson to play, and by the age of 10 Paisley was already performing at his church.

While in junior high, Paisley was doing a show at a local Rotary Club, when he was discovered by a program director for a Wheeling, W.V., radio station. He was invited to be a guest on the popular radio show “Wheeling Jamboree” and the rest is history.

Paisley has sold more than 12 million albums, won three Grammy Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards and two American Music Awards. In 2001, at the age of 28, he became the youngest artist ever to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

In 2010, Paisley performed at the National Memorial Day Concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (see photo, above).

Please check out the audio track of Paisley performing “You Have That Effect on Me.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“You Have That Effect On Me”Written by Brad Paisley and Frank Rogers. Performed by Brad Paisley.

Every morning the last couple of weeksIn between shaving and brushing my teethI’d lean on the sink and practice my linesBy now you would think they’d be memorized

But leave it to me to come all this wayGet down on one knee and forget what to sayI’m at a loss, should have known this is how it would be‘Cause you have that effect on me

I must admit I still don’t understandWhy I lose my head holding your handThere’s no explanation, no simple excuseFor this intoxication I feel around you

And now truth be known since I’ve met you girlI’ve been walkin’ around in my own little worldOne look in my eyes and darlin’ any fool could seeThat you have that effect on me

You’ve had your eyes on a 2-carat ringI finally went out and I bought itRight now it’s at home sittin’ on my TVWould you believe I forgot it

But you can’t blame me ’cause it’s plain to seeThat you have that effect on meYeah, you have that effect on meGirl, you have that effect on me

Please note that the embedded video below is delivered via an iFrame from YouTube

Credits: Image by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0],